,   _ 
COO'i 

"*'  lifer  ll 


fi 


Americanization 
in  Chicago 


The  Report  of  a  Survey 


n  n   n 


The  Chicago  Community  Trust 
Suite  1340,  10  South  La  Salle  Street 
CHICAGO  n  ILLINOIS 


Return  this  book  on  or  before  the 
Latest  Date  stamped  below.  A 
charge  is  made  on  all  overdue 
books. 

U.  of  I.  Library 


JUL   -9-37 

M  21IS53 


MM  - 


-s    o 

211972 


Americanization 
in  Chicago 


The  Report  of  a  Survey  made  by 
authority  and  under  direction  of 
The  Chicago  Community  Trust 


Prepared  by 
Frank  D.  Loomis,  Acting  Secretary 


Published  by 

The  Chicago  Community  Trust 

Suite   1340,    10    South   La   Salle   Street 

Chicago,    Illinois 


A  Synopsis  of  the  Report  on 
Americanization  in  Chicago 

Americanism  begins  at  home.     The   basis  of  a  sound   society  is 
found  in  a  healthy  and  congenial  community  life. 

In  the  Americanization  Survey  of  Chicago,  studies  have  been  made: 
(a)     Of  the  population  of  Chicago — its  cosmopolitan  character; 

(£)     Of  forces  which  make  for  development  of  class-conscious- 
ness, inter-class  suspicion  and  hatred; 

(r)     Of  forces  which  make  for  mutual  understanding,  good-will 
and  harmony. 

Population  of  Chicago 

RSSBEThe  population  of  Chicago  classified  according  to  nativity  is  made  up  of  44% 
of  people  of  English  speaking  parentage  (of  whom  at  present  estimates  of  4%  are 
negroes)  and  56%  of  foreign  language  groups.  The  details  are  shown  on  pages  5-7. 

These  various  groups  are  found  mingled  to  some  extent  in  every  ward  of  the 
city.  The  Polish,  the  Bohemians,  the  Russian  Jews,  the  Italians,  the  Lithuanians, 
and  the  Negroes,  have  large  "segregated  districts."  These  districts  and  their  char- 
acter are  described  on  pages  8-13. 

Anti-Soda/  Forces 

There  are  three  schools  of  ultra-radicals — Anarchists,  Communists,  and  Syndicalists. 
What  they  stand  for  and  the  methods  they  use  in  spreading  their  propaganda  are  set 
forth  on  pages  13-15. 

The  number  of  people  actually  belonging  to  these  organizations  is  small,  but 
their  poisonous  influence  mav  often  be  far  reaching.  The  character  of  this  influence 
and  its  utter  falseness  are  explained  on  pages  15-18.  Some  other  radicals,  not  so  ex- 
treme in  their  teachings,  but  more  numerous,  are  mentioned  on  pages  18-19. 

Constructive  Soda/  Forces 

The  constructive  work  of  Americanization  agencies  reaches  only  a  small  per- 
centage of  our  population — less  than  8%  of  our  unnaturalized  population  being  reach- 
ed at  all  by  such  agencies.  The  Americanization  activities  of  the  Public  Schools,  the 
Industries,  the  Newspapers,  Public  Agencies,  Semi-Public  Agencies,  Foreign  Lan- 
guage Associations,  the  Churches,  and  the  new  Patriotic  Societies  are  briefly  explained 
on  pages  19-31. 

A  list  of  83  such  organizations, — which  is  not  assumed  to  be  complete — is 
printed  on  pages  31-34. 

Co-  Ordination 

A  suggestion  for  the  co-ordination  of  constructive  agencies  is  made  on 
pages  35-36. 

It  is  recommended  that  there  be  a  conference  of  representatives  of  all  the 
agencies  and  that  this  conference  appoint  a  commission  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  keep 
the  agencies  and  the  public  informed  of  the  work  being  done  and  needing  to  be  done. 
It  is  believed  that  such  a  commission  could  do  much  to  avoid  duplication  and  promote 
efficiency. 


Americanization  in  Chicago 

^- -^HEN  we  speak  of  the  United  States,  we  allude  to 

a  union  of  states  and  not  necessarily  to  a  united 
people.    When   we   proclaim   that   there   is   no 
longer  in  this  country  any  north,  any  south,  any 
east  or  any  west,  we  indicate  that  this  country  has 
become  united  so  far  as  geographical  sectionalism  is  con- 
cerned, but  this  still  does  not  imply  necessarily  that  we  are  a 
united  people.     In  a  republic,  the  community  is  the  unit  of 
government  and  if  in  our  communities  there  be  no  unity,  then 
the  foundations  of  our  government  are  weak,  indeed. 

Are  we  a  united  people?  To  answer  that  question  we 
need  to  know  what  is  going  on  in  the  communities  of  this 
country.  What  are  the  processes  at  work  there?  Is  there  a 
community  life?  Is  it  functioning?  Do  the  people  know 
each  other?  Do  they  understand  each  other?  Do  they  like 
each  other?  Is  there  a  community-consciousness  which  is  all- 
embracing?  These  are  questions  which  lie  at  the  roots  of 
Americanization. 

THE  NEED  FOR  AMERICANIZATION 

The  war  and  the  events  following  the  war  have  awakened 
a  new  interest  in  Americanization.  We  have  seen  certain 
elements  of  discord  and  disintegration  at  work — have  seen 
them  actually  predominant  in  some  parts  of  the  world — have 
felt  their  blighting  influence  in  our  own  midst.  We  have 
become  aware  of  the  fact  that  there  are  many  people  living 
among  'is  with  whom  we  are  not  acquainted ;  that  instead  of 
friendliness  and  good-will  there  exists  often  mutual  suspicion 
and  even  hatred;  that  instead  of  wholesome  community  con- 
sciousness there  is  being  developed  a  sinister  class  conscious- 
ness. We  have  suddenly  realized  that  the  old-fashioned 
neighborhood  is  gone  and  as  yet  we  have  nothing  to  take  its 
place. 

What  shall  be  done?  Where  shall  we  begin?  There  has 
been  in  some  cases  almost  a  frenzy  of  effort  to  start  something 
to  prevent  something.  Organizations  have  been  formed — 
many  of  them.  Money  has  been  raised — and  spent,  often, 


[  4  ] THE  CHICAGO  COMMUNITY  TRUST 

without   accomplishing   anything   worth    mentioning.     The 
newspapers  have  been  full  of  accounts  of  radical  and  anti-/ 
radical  activities.    "Down  with  the  Reds"  has  become  a  popA 
ular  political  slogan.    Raids  are  made;  literature  is  seized; 
men  and  women  are  arrested  in  large  numbers,  many  are 
deported,  severe  laws  are  advocated  to  enable  authorities  to 
deal  with  the  others. 

Now,  although  the  situation  is  one  of  gravity,  we  can 
hardly  remedy  it  by  hysteria  and  excitement.  The  great  mass 
of  the  people  of  America,  both  native  and  foreign  born,  are 
sound  both  at  head  and  at  heart.  Over-organization,  or  ill- 
conceived  organization  for  any  purpose,  leads  to  disorganiza- 
tion. "Too  many  cooks  spoil  the  broth,  they  say."  The  din 
of  agitation  is  confusing  rather  than  quieting.  Neither  have 
heresies  ever  been  stopped  by  the  cutting  off  of  a  few  foolish 
heads.  The  task  of  Americanization  is  a  serious  one  and  we 
must  go  about  it  intelligently. 

SUBJECTS  CONSIDERED  IN  SURVEY 

Such  were  the  considerations  in  the  minds  of  the  Chicago 
Community  Trust  Committee  when  they  ordered  a  survey  of 
Americanization  activities  and  needs  in  Chicago.  In  under- 
taking the  survey,  which,  necessarily,  could  only  be  general 
in  character,  we  divided  the  subjects  to  be  considered  under 
three  heads : 

1.  A  study  of  the  population  of  Chicago  according  to 
national,  social  or  racial  groups  and  the  attitude  of  these 
groups  toward  each  other  and  toward  our  government-of-the- 
people  as  a  whole. 

2.  A  study  of  the  forces  operating  in  Chicago  which  we 
consider    to    be    destructive — commonly   spoken    of    as    the 
Radicals. 

3.  A  study  of  the  forces  which  we  consider  to  be  con- 
structive— the  Americanization  agencies  in  Chicago. 

Our  report  follows  this  general  outline,  concluding  with 
a  suggestion  for  a  constructive  co-ordinated  Americanization 
program. 


AMERICANIZATION  IN  CHICAGO [  5  ] 

/.    METROPOLITAN  CHICAGO. 

The  Foreign  Language  Division  of  the  Liberty  Loan 
Committee  in  Chicago  included  representatives  of  thirty- 
three  (33)  distinct  foreign  language  groups.  Besides  these, 
we  have  six  (6)  distinct  English  speaking  groups — making 
a  total  of  thirty-nine  (39)  important  national  or  racial  groups. 

1.    The  largest  groups  and  the  percentage  of  each  in  the 
total  population  are  as  follows: 

a.     TLnglish  Speaking  Groups. 

American  Whites  3 1  % 

American  Negroes  2% 

Canadians  2% 

English  „ 2 % 

Irish 6% 

Scotch  „ „.  1  % 


TOTAL  44% 

b.     Foreign  Language  Groups. 

Germans  1 6 % 

Polish   10% 

Russians    7% 

Swedish    5% 

Bohemians   4% 

Italians  4% 

Austrians 2% 

Norwegians   2% 

Danish    1  % 

Hungarians    1  % 

Lithuanians „  1  % 

Hollanders 1  % 

Roumanians  1  % 

All  others  1% 


TOTAL 56% 

Table  No.  1  shows  the  distribution  of  these  larger  groups 
by  percentages  in  wards. 


THE  CHICAGO  COMMUNITY  TRUST 


TABLE  NO.  1 

Showing  Distribution  of  Population  by  Percentages  in  Wards 

Distribution  of  Population  according  to  Nativity  (See  Note  1) 
%  of  Total 


Ward 

American 
White 

a    §  i 

o          "S 

ii  i  1 
11  1  j 

<Z    <     ffl 

Canadian 
Danish 

English 
German 

Hungarian 

M 

Italian 

Lithuanian 

Polish 
Russian 

Scotch 
Swedish 

Others,  See 
Note  4 

1     43 
2     44 
3     63 
4     14 
5     28 
6     59 
7     63 
8     27 
9     27 
10       9 
11     14 
12     16 
13     57 
14     45 
15     10 
16     10 
17       8 
18     54 
19     11 
20       7 
21     56 
22     25 
23     42 
24     26 
25     48 
26     36 
27     18 
28     14 
29     14 
30     26 
31     27 
32     49 
33     36 
34     23 
35     29 

13       5     . 
39     
8       1     .... 
....       3       2 
....       1       1 
3       1     _.. 
1       1     .... 
6     .... 
....       5       1 
....       3     36 
6     13 
....       3     46 
1     . 

1 
1       1 
3       1 
1     
3     .... 
3     .... 
6       1 
1        1 
2        1 

"i 

2     
5     

1       5 
1       3 
2       7 
1     25 
1     13 
3     11 
4       5 
2       9 
3       8 
1       4 
1     12 
1       7 
4       7 

1 

"i" 
i 

"i" 

6 
2 

1 
1 

3 
3 

6 
13 
15 
8 
10 
7 
3 
1 
3 
2 
10 
5 
1 
1 
1 
9 
5 
1 
7 
3 
4 
5 
3 
2 
2 
2 
10 
25 
18 
10 
5 
6 
9 

21 
1 

"4 
1 

"i" 

2 

7 

"7 
12 

"3 

2       2 
2 
2 
24       3 
16       5 
1       2 
1 
30       2 
5       6 
4     34 

1 
1       1 
1       1 
1        2 
1        1 
1       3 
2        5 
1        8 
1       9 

2 
3 

4 

"i" 

4 

"3 

13 
6 
1 

"3 
6 
5 

1 
4 
3 
4 
5 
7 
1 
1 
2 
2 
3 
7 
11 
6 
2 
2 
4 
11 
2 
22 

(Note  2) 
(Note  2) 

(Note  2) 
(Note  2) 
(Note  2) 

(Note  2) 

(Note  2) 
(Note  2) 
(Note  2) 

(Note  2) 

3 

"2 

9 
1 
1 

20 
3 

46 

7 
4 
29 

1 
1 

1 

"i 

"3 

29     14 
14       6 
8 
8       2 
9     25 
61       8 
52       2 
....     15 
1     24 
7     46 
1 
2        1 
1 

1 
2 
2        1 
1        1 
1        3 

"i 

1        1 

"i"    "e 

7 
....      14 

3       3     .... 
....       4       1 
....       3     .... 
7     

2       1 
1       4 

3       9 
1     30 
....     13 
4 

2 
4 
1 
1 
1 
1 
2 
1 
6 
1 
2 
1 

"l 

1 
2 
2 

"i" 
1 
1 

1       1     .... 
_.       1 
....     10       4 
1       1     .... 
1       2 

2     . 
3     .... 

2       7 
1       3 
8 
2     12 
.  .     23 

1     
2 
'„.'.       I     "..'. 
1     
2        1 
2       1 
....       3     12 
10       2        1 
5        1     .... 
1     ....        1 
1        1 
....       2     24 
2        1 

1       1 

1     . 
4     
2     .... 
1       4 
1       7 
1     
1     .... 
4       1 
4       1 
2       3 
2     .... 
2       2 

2     31 
1     49 
2     25 
2     37 
3     36 
1     25 
1     22 
1     15 
4     20 
3     16 
2     21 
2     15 
3     18 

.... 

4       1 
1 

1       5 
1      12 
1     15 
1     10 
1        7 
1        2 
1        2 
1     15 
2       7 
1     11 
1 
2       6 

1 

1 
1 
2 
2 

"6 

10       3 
23       3 
17        1 
8       2 
2 

1 
1 

"i" 

1 
3        1 
2     20 
1        1 

To- 
tals      31 

NOTES: 

224212     16       1641     10       7155        (See 
Note  2) 

(1)     Distribution  of  population  according  to  nativity  based  on  statistics  in  the  1914 
school  census  report. 

(2)     No  entries  are  included  where  the  percentage  of  total  population  is  less  than 

M  of  1  %. 

In  addition  to  the  above  there  is  approximately  12%  and  9%  of  total  popula- 
tion in  wards  33  and  35  respectively,  of  Norwegian  nativity.  In  the  entire 
city  the  Norwegian  population  averages  approximately  2%  of  total.  Also 
approximately  10%,  2%  and  4%  of  the  total  population  in  wards  9,  10  and  31 
respectively,  is  of  Holland  nativity,  which  in  the  entire  city  averages  approxi- 
mately 1  %  of  total.  Also  approximately  1  %  of  the  total  population  in  both 
wards  11  and  20  and  2%  in  ward  21  is  of  Roumanian  nativity. 

These  percentages  and  distributions  are  based  on  statistics  in  the  1914 
school  census  report.  The  table  appeared  in  the  report  of  the  Chicago  Com- 
mission on  the  Liquor  Problem,  published  December,  1916.  For  most  of  the 
national  groups  the  figures  are  probably  still  substantially  correct.  But  in 
the  case  of  negroes,  there  has  been  a  very  large  influx  from  southern  states 
since  1914,  so  that  the  present  negro  population  is  estimated  to  be  more  than 
double  what  it  was  then,  or  represents  now  about  4  per  cent  of  the  total 
population  of  the  city. 


AMERICANIZATION  IN  CHICAGO [  7  ] 

Table  No.  2  gives  the  number  of  individuals  in  each 
important  group  (School  Census  1914)  including  the  popula- 
tion of  some  groups  too  small  to  be  indicated  in  the  percentage 
table. 

TABLE  NO.  2. 

Population  of  Chicago  divided  according  to  nationality  from  school  census  1914 

American  White  752,111 

Negro  54,557 

Austrian   58,483 

Belgian  3,392 

Bohemian  _...  1 02,749 

Bulgarian  1 , 103 

Canadian    44,744 

Chinese  1 ,753 

Croation  7,3 1 3 

Danish    22,394 

English  45,714 

Finnish  1,526 

French 5 ,649 

German 399,977 

Greek    8,62 1 

Hollander 16,914 

Hungarian  3 1 ,863 

I rish    1 46,560 

I  tal i an  1 08*  1 60 

Japanese  311 

Lithuanian  24,050 

M exi can  242 

No rwegi  an  47,496 

Polish  23 1 ,346 

Roumanian 5,132 

Russian  1 66, 1 34 

Scotch  17,662 

Servian   845 

Spanish 47 1 

Swedish 1 18,533 

Swiss  3,997 

Welch  1,889 

Other 5,235 

TOTAL  2,437,526 


[  8  ] THE  CHICAGO  COMMUNITY  TRUST 

THE  NATURAL  COMMUNITIES 

A  study  of  these  tables  discovers  that  in  each  ward  of 
the  city  we  have  representatives  of  several  of  these  groups. 
Assuming,  if  we  may,  for  the  moment,  that  the  class  con- 
sciousness of  some  of  these  groups  in  each  case  is  stronger 
than  the  community  consciousness,  or  antagonistic  to  it,  we 
see  that  we  have  an  Americanization  problem  in  every  ward 
of  the  city.  Our  assumption  often  is  not  true.  But  there  are 
likely  to  be  other  distinguishing  elements,  less  easily  defined 
but  not  less  powerful,  which  make  for  the  development  of 
class  consciousness  rather  than  community  consciousness. 
Extreme  sectarianism,  either  religious  or  political,  may  be 
such  an  element.  Another  element  may  be  the  limitations  of 
"society,"  using  the  word  in  its  narrower  sense,  based  on  the 
economic  or  cultural  conditions  of  people,  tending  to  become 
established  with  hard  and  fast  lines  which  are  crossed  with 
difficulty  and  only  by  the  broader  spirits.  Another  element 
may  be  found  in  the  historic  origin  of  the  community  itself. 
Communities  come  into  existence  usually  in  one  of  three 
ways: 

1.  Early  development  of  a  village,  possibly  near  a  large 
city.    It  grows  and  the  city  grows  until  eventually  the  village 
becomes  a  part  of  the  city. 

2.  The  development  of  an  industrial  community,  made 
up  almost  entirely  of  the  employees  of  some  large  industry, 
and  their  families. 

3.  The  growth  of  an  immigrant  settlement,  on  the  out- 
skirts or  even  in  the  heart  of  a  city,  whence  it  expels  the  earlier 
settlers  and  changes  the  character  of  the  earlier  community. 

Around  each  of  these  communities  or  between  them  peo- 
ple "settle"  who  do  not  belong  historically  to  any  community. 
No  distinctive  community  life  develops  there  nor  does  such 
a  settlement  become  an  integral  part  of  the  adjacent  com- 
munities, although  it  may  later  be  incorporated  with  one  of 
them  in  a  city  ward. 


AMERICANIZATION  IN  CHICAGO [  9  ] 

COMMUNITY  SPIRIT  MUST  BE  DEVELOPED 

It  is  unfortunate,  in  the  political  organization  of  our 
cities,  that  the  wards  are  not  more  nearly  indentical  with  the 
natural  communities.  It  is  further  unfortunate  that  little 
effort  has  been  made  to  retain  and  develop  the  community 
feeling.  Often  indeed  it  has  been  the  effort  of  ward  politi- 
cians to  destroy  or  prevent  it,  playing  various  groups  against 
each  other  in  such  a  way  as  to  enable  them  to  manipulate 
elections  and  set  up  political  control.  The  inhabitants  of  a 
ward  so  organized  are  likely  to  feel  that  they  have  no  part  in 
the  government.  Often  the  foreign-born  refuse  to  take  out 
citizenship  papers  because  the  ordinary  process  of  getting 
them  is  through  the  local  political  boss  and  they  say  they  do 
not  want  to  be  placed  under  obligation  to  him. 

The  political  units,  it  has  been  declared  by  various 
leaders  in  Americanization,  should  be  smaller;  identical  as 
nearly  as  possible  with  the  natural  communities,  or  not  larger 
than  may  be  embraced  within  an  homogeneous  community. 
The  Community-consciousness  in  each  of  these  political  units 
should  be  continuously  promoted.  Each  community  should 
have  its  community  house,  where  all  the  people  of  the  com- 
munity can  come  in  gatherings,  for  entertainments,  for  lec- 
tures, for  discussion  of  questions  relating  to  their  welfare  and 
progress. 

THE  NEGRO  RACIAL  PROBLEM 

A  study  of  the  various  groups  and  their  mutual  relations 
brings  to  light  many  interesting  facts.  Our  only  racial  prob- 
lem of  any  consequence  relates  to  the  negro — one  of  the 
Englisii  speaking  groups.  The  presence  of  this  problem  and 
its  general  difficulties  are  known  to  all.  There  has  been  a 
large  influx  of  negroes  from  the  south  since  the  war.  At  the 
time  of  the  Armistice,  they  were  coming  into  Chicago  at;  the 
rate  of  forty  car  loads  a  day.  In  the  last  year  this  has  been 
reduced,  but  the  present  rate  is  said  to  average  twenty-five  car 
loads  a  day.  Not  all  of  these  immigrants  stop  in  Chicago;  a 
large  number  pass  on  to  other  northern  cities;  but  our  own 
colored  population  has  doubled  in  the  last  three  years.  (The 
present  colored  population  is  conservatively  estimated  at 
125,000.) 


[  10  ] THE  CHICAGO  COMMUNITY  TRUST 

The  negroes  have  been  attracted  to  Chicago  by  the  oppor- 
tunities for  employment  in  Industry,  and  by  the  high  wages 
they  can  obtain  as  compared  with  wages  in  the  south.  They 
are  not  complaining  of  wages  or  conditions  of  labor  and  this 
often  has  caused  bitter  antagonism  on  the  part  of  other  work- 
ers. Their  attempts  to  find  homes  is  another  source  of  con- 
stant friction.  They  are  frequently  and  shamefully  exploited 
by  real-estate  sharks  and  rental  agents.  Americanization  will 
not  be  complete  until  the  social  relations  with  this  large  group 
of  our  population  have  been  satisfactorily  adjusted. 

GERMAN  POPULATION 

The  German  population  is  the  oldest  and  the  largest, 
from  the  standpoint  of  immigration,  of  our  foreign  language 
groups.  They  have  become  so  far  assimulated  in  the  life  of 
the  city  that  they  do  not  as  a  rule  live  in  segregated  districts, 
but  they  are  found  mingled  with  the  general  population  in 
nearly  every  ward  in  the  city. 

It  was  to  be  expected  that  there  would  be  suspicion  and 
animosity  between  the  German  born  and  other  national 
groups,  including  our  own,  because  of  the  war.  Their  long 
standing  antipathy  toward  the  English  is  well  known.  It 
must  further  be  admitted  that  many  of  them  are  not  in  sym- 
pathy with  many  of  the  important  traditions  and  customs  of 
our  own  country.  The  traditions  and  customs  which  they 
condemn  are  largely  those  which  we  have  inherited  from  the 
English.  Nevertheless  there  are  few  who  would  not  admit 
that  the  people  of  German  extraction  as  a  rule  make  excellent 
American  Citizens.  Many  of  them  are  of  liberal  tendencies. 

BOHEMIAN  POPULATION 

The  Bohemians  represent  also  one  of  the  older  immigra- 
tions, the  first  settlement  having  been  formed  in  Chicago  in 
1850.  It  was  just  west  of  the  present  boundaries  of  thf 
"Loop."  They  still  live  on  the  west  side,  in-so-far  as  they  still 
cling  together  in  a  segregated  district,  living  south  of  twelfth 
street,  and  west  of  Halsted  street,  to  the  city  limits,  and  in 
Cicero.  The  older  settlers  have  formed  relationships  in  the 
city  life  by  means  of  which  the  new  comers  also  have  been 
rapidly  assimilated.  The  Bohemians  like  America.  They 


AMERICANIZATION  IN  CHICAGO [  11  ] 

form  organizations  and  conduct  classes  among  themselves  to 
teach  the  newcomers  American  ways. 

THE  SCANDINAVIANS 

The  Scandinavians  have  always  been  a  welcome  class  of 
immigrants.  Those  who  settle  in  the  city  are  likely  to  be 
skilled  mechanics,  commanding  high  wages,  but  eagerly 
sought  after  by  the  structural  industries.  They  have  no  segre- 
gated district  in  Chicago,  but  are  found  in  many  of  the  wards, 
particularly  north-west.  They  are  of  a  physically  active  type, 
practical,  sturdy,  not  inclined  to  intellectual  abstractions. 

THE  POLES  AND  LITHUANIANS 

The  Poles  represent  in  Chicago  a  newer  immigration. 
They  live  in  clearly  defined  segregated  districts,  chiefly  north- 
west, but  also  south-south-west,  and  in  South  Chicago.  To 
the  average  citizen,  the  "Poles"  includes  the  Polish  and 
Lithuanians,  although  there  is  considerable  difference  be- 
tween them,  and  a  deep-rooted  social  antipathy.  Both  the 
Polish  and  the  Lithuanians  are  by  heredity  a  rural  people. 
In  the  old  country  they  lived  on  small  farms,  cultivated  both 
by  the  men  and  the  women  with  the  help  of  the  children. 
Their  homes  were  small  huts;  their  food  was  coarse  and  plain. 
Except  in  severe  weather  they  slept  out  doors.  They  are  not 
accustomed  to  city  life.  Chicago  is  the  largest  Polish  city  in 
the  history  of  the  world.  The  Polish  immigrants  have  flocked 
here  because  the  city  offered  them  an  immediate  opportunity 
of  making  a  livelihood.  They  are  a  timid  people,  suspicious, 
non-communicative,  and  they  are  impelled  to  go  where  they 
will  be  sure  of  finding  friends.  City  life  does  not  agree  with 
them  at  first.  The  women  are  not  housekeepers.  The  men, 
naturally  strong,  lose  weight  when  they  work  in  factories. 
They  contract  tuberculosis  readily.  The  children  become 
delinquent  often  because  the  parents,  away  from  home  during 
the  day,  have  no  sense  of  the  necessity  of  providing  for  their 
supervision.  A  "delinquent  child"  is  unheard  of  in  their  own 
country.  There  are  many  problems  of  adjustment  in  the 
Americanization  of  the  Poles.  Yet  the  Pole  makes  a  good 
American  citizen.  Notwithstanding  all  his  hardships,  he  is 
better  off  than  he  was  at  home,  and,  more  important  still,  he 


[  12  ] THE  CHICAGO  COMMUNITY  TRUST 

sees  prospects  of  a  more  prosperous  future.  For  the  first  time 
in  his  life  he  has  an  opportunity  to  acquire  some  property  of 
his  own,  and  many  Poles  are  buying  homes — north-west,  and 
south-west  of  the  city.  Their  political  hopes,  moreover,  are 
not  unlike  ours.  They  are,  indeed  rather  more  conservative 
in  their  beliefs — particularly  the  Polish,  as  distinguished  from 
the  Lithuanians.  Few  of  them  will  become  members  of  the 
radical  societies  nor  be  easily  influenced  by  their  specious 
arguments.  On  the  other  hand  their  temperaments  would  in- 
cline them  to  be  sullen  and  ugly  when  they  feel  they  are 
abused.  We  need  to  make  friends  with  these  people  who 
form  so  large  an  element  of  our  population. 

THE  ITALIANS 

The  Italian  is  not  an  organizer.  He  is  an  individualist. 
In  the  midst  of  organization,  your  typical  Italian  in  America 
buys  a  push  cart  and  goes  into  business  for  himself.  He  saves 
his  money  carefully,  buys  a  tenement  house  and  lives  in  the 
poorest  one  himself.  If  constrained  to  work  for  wages  he 
prefers  out-door  labor,  which  he  follows  in  the  summer  time, 
laying  off  in  the  winter.  The  Italian  is  not  found  in  large 
numbers  in  industry.  He  is  not  likely  to  become  a  man  of 
great  wealth.  He  is  of  poetic  temperament,  artistic,  musical. 
There  is  much  of  value  which  he  can  contribute  to  our  waste- 
ful, luxury-loving,  materialistic  American  life. 

The  oldest  settlement  of  Italians  in  Chicago  is  in  the 
vicinity  of  Grand  Avenue  west  of  the  river.  The  Italians  in 
that  section  represent  perhaps  the  best  element  of  our  Italian 
immigration.  There  is  a  large  settlement  in  the  22nd  ward- 
east  of  the  river.  The  northern  half  of  this  settlement,  north 
of  Division  street,  is  populated  largely  by  Sicilians.  Most  of 
the  Italians  of  Chicago  live  in  a  settlement  beginning  at  the 
southern  edge  of  the  Loop,  in  the  first  ward  and  extending 
westward  across  the  river,  and  north  of  twelfth  street  in  the 
19th  ward. 

RUSSIAN  JEWS 

The  Russians,  who  comprise  7  per  cent  of  our  total  popu- 
lation in  Chicago,  a  very  large  element,  have  been  regarded, 
since  the  defalcation  of  Russia  in  the  war,  almost  universally 


AMERICANIZATION  IN  CHICAGO [  13  ] 

with  suspicion.  Most  of  the  Russians  in  Chicago  are  Jews. 
The  long  oppression  they  have  suffered  has  left  the  inevitable 
stamp  upon  their  characters.  They  are  suspicious  of  every- 
body. They  think  the  world  is  all  wrong.  They  are  likely  to 
be  against  everything  that  has  yet  been  tried,  whether  in  poli- 
tics, religion,  or  society.  They  are  a  difficult  element  to 
assimilate.  Yet  they  are  intellectually  keen,  unselfish,  exhibit 
religious  devotion  to  any  cause  which  they  espouse;  and  are 
capable  of  becoming  by  no  means  undesirable  citizens.  They 
live  chiefly  in  a  district  immediately  west  of  the  river  and 
south  of  12th  street,  in  the  20th,  10th,  and  llth  wards,  but  are 
also  mingled  with  the  Italians  north  of  12th  street  in  the  19th 
ward;  with  the  Irish,  Germans,  and  Italians  in  the  18th  ward; 
and  there  is  a  considerable  settlement  of  them  in  the  15th 
ward,  northwest  of  the  Polish  settlement. 

SMALLER  GROUPS 

Other  distinct  social  groups  have  comparatively  few  re- 
presentatives in  Chicago.  The  Hungarians,  like  the  Germans 
and  Austrians,  are  widely  scattered  over  the  city.  The  Hol- 
landers and  the  Belgians  are  close  of  kin  with  our  earliest 
colonial  pioneers.  The  Greeks,  the  Creations,  the  Rouman- 
ians, and  the  French  are  friendly  peoples  and  generally  sym- 
pathetic with  our  ideals.  We  have  exceedingly  few  people 
from  southern  countries  (except  our  negroes).  We  have  a 
small  colony  of  Chinese  in  the  first  ward,  south  of  the  Loop, 
introducing  another  racial  problem.  It  has  been  predicted 
that  the  immigration  of  the  next  few  years  to  the  United  States 
will  come  largely  from  China.  If  this  should  prove  true, 
doubtless  many  of  the  newcomers  will  find  their  way  to 
Chicago,  and  we  should  be  getting  ready  for  them. 

With  this  picture  in  mind  of  Cosmopolitan  Chicago,  let 
us  consider  now  the  activities  of  the  "Reds." 

II.     THE  "REDS." 

Classified  according  to  doctrine,  there  are  three  principal 
"schools"  of  ultra-radicals: 

a.  Anarchists — Advocate  killing  of  all  public  officials, 
their  wives  and  children,  also  leading  capitalists,  in  order  to 


[  14  ]  THE  CHICAGO  COMMUNITY  TRUST 

accomplish  the  overthrow  permanently  of  all  government. 
The  Anarchists  are  represented  in  the  United  States  princi- 
pally by  an  organization  known  as  the  "Union  of  Russian 
Working  Men."  They  have  no  headquarters  in  Chicago  at 
present. 

b.  Communists — Advocate  seizure  and  overthrow  of  all 
"Parliamentary  Government"  in  order  to  set  up  "Industrial 
Democracy" — the  government  by  the  "workers"  or  the  prole- 
tariat.   There  are  two  principal  groups  in  the  United  States — 
the   "Communist  Party,"  with   headquarters   at   1221    Blue 
Island  Avenue,  and  the  "Communist  Labor  Party,"   with 
national  headquarters  in  Cleveland,  Ohio — local  headquarters 
at  204  North  Clark  St.,  Chicago. 

c.  Syndicalists — Advocate  the  organization  of  "One  Big 
Union" — a  "class  conscious  group" — which  will  include  all 
workers — which  will  overthrow  the  present  industrial  system, 
destroy  capitalism,  and  thereafter  manage  production  in  the 
interests  of  the  "producers."    Principal  group — "I.  W.  W." 
with  national  headquarters  at   1001   West  Madison   Street, 
Chicago. 

RADICAL  PROPAGANDA 
These  radical  schools  carry  on  their  propaganda  through 

a.  Meetings,    conducted,    regularly    or    frequently,    in 

public  meeting  places  under  their  own  supervision. 
There  are  a  score  or  more  Halls  in  Chicago  which 
are  known  as  radical  meeting  places. 

b.  The  radical  organizations  have  a  studied  practice  of 

injecting  their  teachings  at  other  public  meetings, 
especially  at  labor  union  meetings.  They  have 
freely  announced  their  intention  to  capture  the  labor 
union  organizations  and  in  some  cases  they  seem  to 
have  succeeded  in  doing  so. 

c.  Members  of   radical  organizations   are   pledged  to 

help  organize  "factory"  or  "shop  committees."  It 
is  the  duty  of  these  committees  to  stir  up  discontent 
among  employees,  enlist  members  for  the  radical 
organizations,  engage  in  labor  disputes,  encourage 
"loafing"  on  the  job  and  defective  workmanship,  in- 
timidate faithful  workmen,  bring  about  strikes. 


AMERICANIZATION  IN  CHICAGO [  15  ] 

d.  Distribution  of  literature,  hand  bills,  placards,  etc. 
The  attempts  to  influence  people  by  printed  argu- 
ments and  appeals  is  by  no  means  confined  to  the 
distribution  of  free  literature.  Hundreds  of  mag- 
azines, pamphlets,  and  books  are  printed,  widely 
distributed  through  the  mails,  purchased  and  read 
by  many  thousands  of  people,  the  majority  of  whom 
are  probably  not  actually  identified  with  any  of  the 
radical  societies.  This  literature,  printed  in  various 
languages,  is  distributed  by  members  of  radical 
societies,  it  may  be  obtained  at  radical  meetings,  may 
be  subscribed  for,  or  purchased  at  radical  book 
stores,  of  which  there  are  six  or  more  well-known  in 
Chicago. 

A  critical  study  of  this  propaganda  would  require  more 
space  than  could  be  allowed  in  such  an  outline  as  this  and  it 
would  be  of  little  value  anyhow.  Much  of  the  argument  is 
specious — doctrinaire  in  character — with  high  sounding 
phrases,  big  words,  finely  drawn  distinctions,  which  could 
possibly  be  understood  only  by  the  initiated.  Like  the  philo- 
sophies of  India,  it  has  no  beginning  and  no  end.  Some  of  it, 
on  the  other  hand,  is  evidently  the  product  of  untutored 
minds,  but  indicates  a  sincerity  and  conviction  little  short  of 
religious  fervor.  It  may  be  worth  while  to  consider  for  a 
moment  the  influence  of  such  teachings. 

THE  ARGUMENT  OF  THE  "REDS" 

The  validity  of  any  argument  depends  first  of  all  upon 
the  premise.  The  argument  itself  may  be  never  so  logical, 
but  if  the  premise  is  false  the  whole  argument  falls.  What 
is  the  premise  upon  which  the  radical  arguments  are  built? 
There  is  a  premise  which  seems  to  be  common  to  all  their 
arguments,  which  premise  itself  is  generally  accepted  as  need- 
ing no  argument.  It  appears  constantly  in  radical  speeches 
and  literature,  but  is  well  stated  in  an  article  in  the  Prole- 
tarian, November,  1919,  page  7.  The  writer,  defining  Capital 
and  Labor  and  attempting  to  show  the  uncompromisable  dif- 
ference between  "Capitalists"  and  "Laborers"  says:  "The 
term  'Capital'  is  commonly  used  to  refer  to  the  wealth  used 


[  16  ] THE  CHICAGO  COMMUNITY  TRUST 

in  production  for  profit  and  to  refer  to  the  class  of  men  who 
own  that  wealth  and  who,  therefore,  do  not  have  to  do  any 
useful  work,  but  receive  their  income  in  the  form  of  interest^, 
profit  and  rent.  The  term  'Labor'  is  used  to  refer  to  the  act 
of  applying  labor-power  to  the  raw  materials  in  the  produc- 
tion of  goods  and  also  to  refer  to  the  class  of  men  who  furnish 
the  labor-power."  "Do  the  men  who  own  the  capital  furnish 
the  labor-power  themselves?  Most  certainly  not.  This 
labor-power  is  furnished  almost  entirely  by  men  who  do  not 
own  capital,  that  is,  by  workingmen."  The  writer  then  pro- 
ceeds, quoting  from  various  economists,  to  prove  that  this 
capital  itself  has  been  produced  by  workingmen. 

THE  THREE  HUMAN  ELEMENTS  OF  PRODUCTION 

Now  this  is  an  interesting  premise.  It  has  indeed  been 
accepted  by  many  professional  economists  for  many  years  and 
it  is  not  strange  that  it  should  have  become  the  foundation 
premise  for  economic  radicalism  the  world  over.  But  it  is 
not  a  true  premise.  The  labor  of  workingmen  is  not  the  only 
human  element  in  production.  The  first  element  is  self- 
denial,  saving,  the  accumulation  of  a  surplus.  That  surplus, 
of  course,  is  Capital.  But  the  point  is  that  Capital  is  not  the 
result  of  labor — it  is  the  result  of  Saving.  That  is  a  process 
which  is  open  to  any  healthy  man,  and  there  are  many  "work- 
ingmen," so-called,  and  "capitalists"  so-called,  who  are  saving 
to-day,  while  others  are  spending  all  they  make. 

There  is  another  human  element  of  production;  quite 
often  overlooked  by  the  professional  economist,  and  always 
ignored  by  the  "Radical,"  which  is  quite  as  important  as  either 
of  the  other  two.  It  is  the  element  of  brain  power,  or,  since 
every  man  thinks  he  has  brains,  call  it  genius — the  genius  for 
discovery,  the  genius  for  invention,  the  genius  for  organiza- 
tion— more  broadly  speaking  still — the  genius  for  poetry,  the 
genius  for  art,  the  genius  for  music,  the  genius  for  statesman- 
ship, the  genius  for  religion.  All  of  these,  and  many  more, 
are  factors  of  brain  power  in  production.  Without  such  pro- 
duction mankind  would  still  be  in  the  depths  of  savagery, 
living  in  caves  or  rudest  huts,  roaming  the  forests  in  search  of 
food,  naked  or  clad  in  the  skins  of  wild  animals.  Starvation 
and  disease  would  carry  off  whole  tribes  of  people,  thus  keep- 


AMERICANIZATION  IN  CHICAGO [  17  ] 

ing  the  earth  from  becoming  over-populated  and  maintaining 
the  balance  of  food  supply.  , 

Brain-power  also  is  available  to  any  man  who  has  the 
energy  and  the  will-power  to  use  it.  It  serves  those  best  whose 
motives  are  benevolent.  Hatred  has  never  yet  developed  a 
strong  mind. 

"FANNING  THE  FLAMES  OF  DISCONTENT" 

The  acknowledged  object  of  radical  agitation  is  to  stir 
up  class  hatred — "to  fan  the  flames  of  discontent."  Here  are 
a  few  quotations  from  the  "I.  W.  W.  Song  Book" : 

(Tune:  "Hold  the  Fort") 
"Down  with  Greed  and  Exploitation; 

Tyranny  must  fail! 
Hail  to  Toil's  Emancipation; 

Labor  shall  be  all." 

Chorus 
"Scorn  to  take  the  crumbs  they  drop  us; 

All  is  ours  by  right! 
Onward,  men!    All  Hell  can't  stop  us! 

Crush  the  Parasite." 

(Another  song — to  special  music)  Page  27. 
"We  have  fed  you  all  for  a  thousand  years, 

And  you  hail  us  still  unfed. 
Though  there  is  never  a  dollar  of  all  your  wealth 

But  marks  the  workers  dead. 
We  have  yielded  our  best  to  give  you  rest 

And  you  lie  on  crimson  wool. 
Then  if  blood  be  the  price  of  all  your  wealth, 
Good  God!    We  have  paid  it  in  full." 

(Tune:  "Don't  Bite  the  Hand  That's  Feeding  You.) 

Page  36. 
"All  hail  to  the  Bolshevik! 

We  will  fight  for  our  Class  and  be  free, 

A  Kaiser,  King,  or  Czar,  no  matter  which  you  are, 

You're  nothing  of  interest  to  me. 

If  you  don't  like  the  red  flag  of  Russia, 

If  you  don't  like  the  spirit  so  true, 

Then  just  be  like  the  cur  in  the  story 

And  lick  the  hand  that's  robbing  you." 


[  18  ] THE  CHICAGO  COMMUNITY  TRUST 

(Tune:   "What  Do  You  Want  To  Make  Those  Eyes  at  Me 

For?")     Page  19. 

"So  whadda  ya  want  to  break  your  back  for  the  boss  for, 
When  it  don't  mean  life  to  you? 
Do  you  think  it  right  to  struggle  day  and  night, 
And  plow  like  Hell  for  the  Parasite? 
So  whadda  ya  want  to  break  your  back  for  the  boss  for, 
When  there's  more  in  life  for  you? 
Slow  up  Bill!   that's  the  way  to  beat  the  System; 
Join  the  Wobbly  Gang,  they've  got  the  bosses  guessing. 
So  whadda  ya  want  to  break  your  back  for  the  boss  for. 
When  it  don't  mean  life  to  you?" 

SOME  LESS-RADICALS 

We  have  thus  far  spoken  of  the  teachings  and  influence 
of  only  the  ultra-radicals.  There  are  other  radicals,  not  so 
extreme  in  their  teachings,  but  far  more  numerous,  and  not 
less  effective  in  stirring  up  discontent.  Among  these  may  be 
included  not  merely  the  various  varieties  of  party  socialists, 
but  also  many  individuals  and  societies,  more  or  less  extremg 
in  their  views,  not  definitely  alligned  with  any  radical  organi- 
zation, who  urge  radical  and  revolutionary  governmental 
reforms.  These  may  belong  to  that  class  whom  Carlyle 
characterized  as  "rash  apostles  of  change,"  or  they  may  be 
purely  "forward  looking"  people,  whose  tendency  is  to  look 
only  forward  and  never  circumspectly.  They  may  urge  re- 
forms which  are  equivalent  to  communism.  Or  their  goal 
may  be  pure  democracy — direct  democracy — in  which  the 
"people  rule."  They  infer  that  the  people  do  not  now  rule 
and  that  all  our  ills,  which  they  are  inclined  to  magnify,  are 
due  to  that  fact. 

It  is  not  our  purpose  here  to  dispute  these  political  views. 
It  is  our  purpose  merely  to  call  attention  to  them  and  to  the 
fact  that  they  are  radical,  involving  fundamental  changes  in 
our  form  of  government.  The  American  government  is  a 
republican  form  of  government  in  which  the  people  rule 
through  their  chosen  representatives.  This  government  is  not 
a  democracy.  The  adoption  of  democracy  would  involve  a 
departure  from  traditional  Americanism.  The  goverment 


AMERICANIZATION  IN  CHICAGO  [  19  ] 

established  by  our  fore-fathers  is  the  expression  of  a  more 
moderate  idea — it  is  the  mean  between  autocracy,  on  the  one 
hand,  and  democracy  on  the  other.  There  are  those  who 
maintain  that  our  social  ills  are  in  a  considerable  measure  due 
to  our  departure  from  a  strictly  republican  form  of  govern- 
ment— that  the  real  evils  of  society  (and  there  will  always  be 
evils  to  be  corrected  in  any  society,  so  long  as  people  are 
human  and  some  are  selfish)  that  these  evils  can  be  corrected 
much  more  surely  under  a  republican  government  than  under 
a  democracy. 

Attention  should  be  called  to  the  fact  that  legislation 
alone  or  the  particular  form  of  government  cannot  make 
society  right.  The  basis  of  happiness  is  character.  Govern- 
ment itself  is  but  an  expression  of  the  character  of  a  people. 
The  basis  of  peace  is  good-will  among  men. 

///.     THE  PROMOTION  OF  GOOD-WILL. 

Good-will,  to  be  effective,  must  be  intelligent.  It  must 
be  concrete,  specific.  Good-will  toward  the  Hottentots  is 
simply  an  imaginary  virtue;  it  has  not  been  proven;  it  may 
vanish  at  the  first  test.  Intelligent  good- will  cannot  exist 
without  acquaintanceship.  Charles  Lamb  said  he  hated  the 
man  he  did  not  know.  Mutual  understanding  is  the  basis  for 
"Americanization." 

There  are  many  Americanization  agencies  in  Chicago. 
Some  of  them  have  Americanization  as  a  definite  program. 
There  are  more  than  sixty-five  such  agencies  operating  in  the 
city.  Other  agencies  have  Americanization  only  as  a  by-pro- 
duct. Some  agencies  have  as  their  principal  object  the  educa- 
tion of  the  immigrant.  Some  look  to  the  promotion  of  pa- 
triotism and  good  citizenship.  A  classification  of  such  agen- 
cies and  the  character  of  activities  in  which  each  may  engage 
is  indicated  in  the  accompanying  chart.  Page  20 

Undoubtedly  the  most  important  agencies  in  the  educa- 
tion of  the  foreigner  are  the  Public  Schools  and  the  Industries. 
The  immigrant  gets  most  of  his  knowledge  of  American  cus- 
toms from  the  places  in  which  he  works.  The  public  schools 
reach  the  children  and  also  conduct  special  classes  for  adults. 
The  women  are  the  hardest  of  all  to  reach  because  so  many  of 
them  do  not  come  in  touch  with  either  of  these  agencies. 


CO 


43     & 

U     -3 

<  S 


cj  ^ 

U  S 

•  «-H  no 

G  O 

HH  — 

•g  I 

cd  S 

s  > 


O     «< 

5      OH 
* 

s  -s 


« 

a 


^  O 

^  s 

bj  -5 

G  - 
•  •— i 

O  .2 

CO  1 


0 
< 


[  22  ] THE  CHICAGO  COMMUNITY  TRUST 

THE  PUBLIC  SCHOOLS 

The  Public  Schools  are  maintained  by  the  public  and  to 
them  we  must  look  as  the  chief  agency  to  carry  out  the  wishes 
of  the  public  for  education.  The  Public  Schools  of  Chicago 
are  not  to  be  criticised,  as  compared  with  the  public  schools 
of  most  cities,  for  the  Americanization  work  already  begun. 
They  are  reaching  more  people  in  definite  Americanization 
activities  than  all  other  specific  Americanization  activities 
combined.  But  all  the  Americanization  agencies  combined 
are  reaching  not  more  than  25,000  people,  and  these  only  for 
very  brief  periods  in  a  week  or  month,  whereas  there  are  esti- 
mated to  be  more  than  300,000  unnaturalized  immigrants  in 
Chicago  who  are  not  at  all  in  touch  with  definite  American- 
izing institutions. 

MOTHERS'  CLASSES 

The  Americanization  activities  of  the  Public  Schools  are 
directed  in  four  channels :  Mothers'  Classes,  Factory  Classes, 
Night  Schools,  and  Community  Centers.  Mothers'  Classes 
are  held  in  the  day  time  (usually  afternoon)  in  public  school 
buildings.  There  are  at  present  twenty  such  classes,  with  an 
average  enrollment  of  about  twenty  women  each  and  an  aver- 
age attendance  of  about  twelve  women  each.  Most  of  the 
classes  meet  once  a  week.  English  is  the  principal  subject 
taught. 

FACTORY  CLASSES 

The  Factory  Classes  for  the  teaching  of  English  are  con- 
ducted in  factories,  under  the  auspices  of  and  with  teachers 
furnished  by  the  public  school  system.  The  consent  and  co- 
operation of  the  factory  management  is  of  course  necessary. 
This  is  being  obtained  in  the  first  instance  largely  through  the 
activities  of  the  Americanization  Committee  of  the  Associa- 
tion of  Commerce.  The  latter  committee  also  assists  in  ob- 
taining individual  enrollment  for  the  classes  and  in  maintain- 
ing interest.  Most  of  the  classes  meet,  half  an  hour  at  noon, 
twice  a  week,  on  employees'  time,  although  a  number  meet 
in  the  afternoons  or  just  before  closing  time,  partly  or  wholly 
on  the  employer's  time.  There  are  at  present  sixty  of  these 
factory  classes,  with  an  average  enrollment  of  twenty-five 
each  (mostly  men)  and  an  average  attendance  of  twenty  each. 


AMERICANIZATION  IN  CHICAGO      [  23  ] 

NIGHT  SCHOOLS 

There  are  at  present  thirty-one  night  schools.  These  are 
conducted  in  school  buildings,  wholly  under  school  authority. 
A  wide  variety  of  subjects  are  taught,  not  only  literary  but 
vocational,  as  well.  The  enrollment  is  not  confined  to  foreign 
born,  and  only  a  few  of  the  classes  are  especially  designed  for 
them.  There  are  no  figures  to  indicate  how  many  foreign 
born  are  actually  reached  or  how  effectively.  It  can  only  be 
remarked,  from  the  general  experience  of  Americanization 
workers,  that  a  full-grown  adult  who  has  worked  hard  at 
physical  labor  all  day,  will  not  learn  much  after  dinner  at 
night,  cramped  up  in  a  child's  desk  in  a  poorly  lighted  school 
room. 

SCHOOL  COMMUNITY  CENTERS 

There  are  sixty-two  community  centers,  conducted  in 
school  buildings  by  the  Board  of  Education.  These  are  in  the 
nature  of  public  assemblies,  where  opportunities  are  provided 
for  lectures,  moving  pictures,  entertainments,  community 
singing,  debating,  recreation,  gymnasia.  Most  of  the  Centers 
are  open  twice  a  week,  in  the  evenings  from  7:30  to  9:30 
o'clock.  These  centers  are  or  may  be  made  very  effective 
Americanizing  agencies.  A  very  popular  form  of  entertain- 
ment consists  of  programs  especially  arranged,  one  evening 
each,  for  the  various  national  groups  in  the  neighborhood. 
There  will  be  a  program  for  the  Lithuanians,  for  instance, 
arranged  with  the  co-operation  of  a  committee  of  Lithuan- 
ians. The  music  may  be  furnished  by  a  Lithuanian  orchestra 
or  a  Lithuanian  glee-club.  A  f  iaylet  may  be  presented,  or 
folk  dancing,  portraying  ancient  customs.  Where  possible, 
also,  moving  picture  slides  are  obtained  showing  scenes  in  the 
old  country.  These  may  be  varied  with  scenes  in  our  own 
country.  Local  customs  may  be  explained,  American  songs 
will  be  sung.  Another  profitable  form  of  evening  program 
may  consist  of  a  party,  with  Lithuanians  and  Americans 
present,  in  which  the  Lithuanians  teach  the  Americans  some 
of  their  customs,  dances,  methods  of  cooking,  etc.,  and  the 
Americans  present  teach  the  Lithuanian  immigrants  some  of 
our  customs. 

Other  general  Americanizing  activities  of  public  schools 
are  indicated  in  the  accompanying  chart.  From  this  it  would 


[  24  ] THE  CHICAGO  COMMUNITY  TRUST 

appear  that  almost  every  form  of  educational  activity  for 
Americanization  which  may  be  conceived  may  be  included 
in  the  school's  program,  and  such  is  the  case.  The  public 
school  system  itself  is  an  American  institution,  all  its  activities 
should  contribute  to  the  building  of  good  American  citizen- 
ship and  every  sound  educational  activity  which  is  needed  for 
the  building  of  citizenship  may  and  probably  should  be  in- 
cluded in  its  program.  The  public  school  is  our  foremost 
Americanizing  institution. 

AMERICANIZATION  IN  INDUSTRIES 

The  Americanization  activities  of  Industries  cover  a 
wide  range.  Besides  the  opportunity  which  industrial  plants 
provide  for  adult  immigrants  to  make  a  living  in  this  country 
immediately  upon  arrival  and  to  become  acquainted  with 
American  ways  of  doing  things,  the  special  welfare  activities 
of  the  various  plants  cover  almost  the  entire  range  of  activities 
of  all  other  agencies  combined.  The  English  classes  have 
been  mentioned.  Many  industrial  institutions  conduct  civic 
classes  also,  classes  in  history,  classes  in  arithmetic,  vocational 
classes,  classes  in  home-making,  classes  in  personal  hygiene. 
Visiting  nurses  are  provided,  day  nurseries  are  maintained, 
community  centers  are  established,  relief  and  benefit  societies 
are  organized,  facilities  for  recreation  and  entertainment  are 
furnished  and  the  employees,  regardless  of  race,  color  or 
creed,  are  encouraged  to  make  the  fullest  use  of  them.  These 
industrial  activities  have  a  great  advantage  over  the  purely 
benevolent  institutions  in  this,  that  they  really  reach  the 
people.  If  properly  managed,  and  especially  if  so  organized 
that  the  employees  themselves  have  a  large  feeling  of  respon- 
sibility in  the  management,  they  grade  high  in  efficiency. 

INDUSTRIAL  RELATIONS  DEPARTMENTS  AND  SHOP 
COMMITTEES 

The  movement  among  many  industries  to  give  employees 
a  larger  share  in  the  management  of  the  industrial  activities 
which  directly  affect  them  is  another  interesting  tendency  of 
the  times.  The  value  of  the  feeling  of  personal  interest  and 
responsibility  is  immeasurable.  The  need  for  individual 
recognition  in  the  midst  of  social  organization  seems  to  be 


AMERICANIZATION  IN  CHICAGO [  25  ] 

one  of  the  greatest  needs  of  modern  life.  And  the  craving  to 
have  one's  individuality  respected  is  not  confined  to  the  breasts 
of  Yankees.  To  be  known  by  number  only  is  quite  as  repug- 
nant to  the  newly  arrived  immigrant  as  it  would  be  to  the 
individual  whose  ancestors  came  over  in  the  Mayflower.  He 
too  has  an  ancestry.  And  the  newly  arrived  immigrant  may 
submit  to  being  "cussed  around"  by  an  inferior  petty  boss, 
because  he  dare  not  do  otherwise,  but  the  feelings  of  resent- 
ment which  are  planted  deep  in  his  consciousness  may  bode 
ill  for  the  future.  The  remarks  along  this  line  of  the  vice- 
president  of  one  of  the  largest  industrial  institutions  in 
Chicago,  which  institution  has  recently  established  a  plan  for 
co-operation  of  the  employees  in  the  management,  were  sig- 
nificant. He  said,  "We  (the  officers  and  directors  of  the  or- 
ganization) have  had  ideals  for  the  fair  and  kindly  treatment 
of  the  men  who  work  in  our  shops,  but  we  have  been  stupid 
in  the  matter  of  communicating  these  ideals  to  the  men  them- 
selves. The  men  in  the  shops  are  under  the  immediate  direc- 
tion of  shop  superintendents,  foremen,  and  petty  bosses.  If 
these  overseers  treat  the  men  harshly,  their  attitude  will 
naturally  be  interpreted  as  the  attitude  of  the  entire  manage- 
ment. In  order  that  these  overseers  may  properly  interpret 
the  spirit  of  the  institution,  we  have  established  classes  which 
every  superintendent,  foreman,  and  petty  boss  in  our  entire 
organization  is  required  to  attend.  Lessons  are  prepared 
which  these  men  are  required  to  learn  and  recite  in  class  as 
schoolboys.  The  men  are  graded  both  on  the  class  work  and 
on  the  ability  and  faithfulness  with  which  they  put  the  lessons 
into  practice.  The  results  have  been  most  gratifying.  We 
find,  coo,  that  the  participation  of  all  the  men  in  the  manage- 
ment of  the  institution,  through  representatives  elected  by  the 
employees  in  each  department  of  each  shop,  is  having  a  most 
beneficial  effect  in  stimulating  personal  interest,  understand- 
ing and  good-will  among  the  men  and  women  of  all  depart- 


ments." 


AMERICANIZATION  AND  THE  PRESS 


The  newspapers  are  agencies  of  tremendous  power  for 
Americanization.  They  not  only  interpret  American  ideals — 
they  help  to  create  them.  Their  influence  is  very  great.  So 
far  as  our  foreign  language  immigrants  are  concerned,  this  is 


[  26  ]  THE  CHICAGO  COMMUNITY  TRUST 

true  not  only  of  the  English  language  newspapers,  but  of  the 
foreign  language  newspapers  as  well.  The  latter  have  a  very 
definite  and  a  very  important  field  in  the  work  of  Americani- 
zation. Most  of  them  have  been  highly  faithful  to  their  obli- 
gation. The  Foreign  Language  Division  of  the  Liberty  Loan 
organization  watched  the  foreign  language  newspapers  close- 
ly during  the  war,  and  the  Chicago  District  Committee 
declares  that  of  the  276  foreign  language  newspapers  in  this 
district,  260  were  without  any  shade  of  doubt  highly  loyal  to 
our  country  and  our  government  throughout  the  war.  It  is 
doubtful  if  the  percentage  of  loyalty  among  the  English 
language  newspapers  was  any  higher.  The  foreign  language 
newspapers  are  important  because  they  reach  so  many  immi- 
grants who  cannot  be  reached  by  English  language  newspa- 
pers. This  is  a  condition  which  naturally  must  continue  for 
many  years  after  the  average  immigrant  arrives.  For  even 
after  the  immigrant  has  learned  to  speak  the  English  language 
quite  well  he  will  hardly  read  English  written  articles  on 
abstract  subjects  understandingly.  We  need  the  foreign  lan- 
guage newspapers  and  we  should  use  them  constantly  and 
aggressively  in  Americanization  work.  Editors  of  foreign 
language  newspapers,  however,  should  have  in  mind  the  idea 
that  it  is  the  function  of  their  papers  not  so  much  among  their 
readers  to  retain  interest  in  the  old  country  as  it  is  to  establish 
interest  in  the  new. 

The  newspapers,  in  addition  to  publishing  the  news,  fre- 
quently maintain  welfare  activities  of  considerable  import- 
ance. This  refers  not  only  to  the  strictly  charitable  activities, 
such  as  collection  and  distribution  of  relief  funds,  maintenance 
of  fresh  air  missions,  and  the  like,  but  more  especially  to  their 
activities  in  maintaining  employment  bureaus,  information 
bureaus,  vocational  and  home-making  education  bureaus,  lec- 
ture platforms,  etc. 

GOVERNMENTAL  AGENCIES 

The  best  contribution  which  the  government  can  make 
for  Americanization  is  in  good  government.  This  is  particu- 
larly true  of  the  local  governments — which  touch  the  lives 
of  the  immigrants  most  closely.  If  the  local  municipal  gov- 
ernment is  less  efficient,  for  instance,!  than  the  immigrant  has 


AMERICANIZATION  IN  CHICAGO [  27  ] 

known  in  Europe,  his  measure  of  respect  for  our  government 
will  be  a  disappointment  both  to  himself  and  to  us.  If,  on 
the  other  hand,  our  local  government  is  better  than  he  has  ever 
known  before,  his  pride  in  becoming  a  citizen  and  his  respect 
for  our  institutions  will  be  encouraging.  The  specific  con- 
tributions of  our  government — federal,  state  and  local — for 
Americanization  through  Public  Agencies,  aside  from  the 
Public  School  System,  have  not  in  the  past  been  of  any  great 
magnitude.  The  process  of  Naturalization  itself,  which 
should  represent  on  the  part  of  the  government  the  culmina- 
tion of  its  training  of  the  immigrant  for  citizenship,  has  been 
generally  so  inefficient,  so  tied  up  with  political  red-tape — 
to  say  nothing  of  petty  graft — as  to  discourage  the  immigrant 
even  from  making  application  for  citizenship  papers.  There 
has  been  little  effort  on  the  part  of  the  government  to  educate 
the  immigrant  in  preparation  for  citizenship.  But  through 
the  activities  of  the  Americanization  Division  of  the  Bureau 
of  Education,  Federal  Department  of  the  Interior,  together 
with  the  co-operation  of  many  state  governments,  we  are  now 
in  a  fair  way  to  change  this  condition.  The  Department  has 
appointed  Americanization  Committees  in  each  state.  Under 
the  auspices  of  the  Department  of  the  Interior  an  important 
Americanization  Conference  was  held  in  Washington  in  May, 
1919.  Representatives  of  Americanization  agencies,  both 
public  and  private,  from  all  over  the  country,  were  present. 
This  conference  called  public  attention  to  the  Americaniza- 
tion work  now  being  done,  the  importance  of  it,  and  advocated 
greatly  increased  activity.  Following  that  conference  public 
sentiment  has  been  developed  to  support  the  passage  in  the 
Senate  recently  of  the  Kenyon  Bill,  which,  if  it  becomes  a 
law,  will  set  up  the  machinery  and  provide  the  funds,  jointly 
with  state  educational  departments,  for  compulsory  education 
of  illiterate  citizens  and  aliens.  Mr.  Max  Loeh  is  chairman 
of  the  Illinois  Committee  on  Americanization,  Department 
of  the  Interior.  If  the  Kenyon  Bill  becomes  a  law,  this  com- 
mittee may  have  at  its  disposal,  under  supervision  of  the  na- 
tional bureau,  a  limited  fund  annually,  possibly  $10,000,  for 
the  printing  of  literature,  publicity  and  general  educational 
activities,  or  the  equivalent  in  material  already  prepared  for 
distribution.  We  have  also  in  Illinois  a  State  Committee  on 


[  28  ] THE  CHICAGO  COMMUNITY  TRUST 

Immigration,  appointed  under  authority  of  the  Legislature  by 
Governor  Lowden,  and  having  an  appropriation  of  $10,000 
for  Americanization  work.  Hon.  Frank  W.  Shepardson, 
Director  of  Education,  Springfield,  is  the  chairman  of  this 
committee,  and  our  own  Col.  Abel  Davis,  of  the  Chicago 
Community  Trust,  is  a  member.  This  committee  has  only 
recently  been  organized. 

The  Chicago  Public  Library  has  done  little  specifically 
for  Americanization.  Some  lists  of  books  on  the  subject  have 
been  published,  including  books  for  use  in  class-work  for  im- 
migrants. 

CHURCH  ACTIVITIES 

Specific  Americanization  work  on  the  part  of  churches 
officially  is  of  comparatively  recent  origin.  The  Catholic 
Church  has  for  some  time  maintained  a  number  of  social  set- 
tlements and  day  nurseries.  The  Presbyterians,  Methodists, 
Episcopalians,  Congregationalists,  Baptists,  Disciples  and 
Lutherans  have  denominational  Social  Service  Departments 
in  the  city,  whose  object  is  to  stimulate  social  service  activities 
among  their  respective  churches.  There  are  also  a  number 
of  social  settlements,  day  nurseries  and  missions  maintained 
in  the  foreign  settlement  neighborhoods  more  or  less  officially 
by  the  Protestant  churches.  The  philanthropies  of  the  He- 
brews are  well-known.  Few  of  these,  however,  are  main- 
tained directly  or  officially  by  the  church. 

A  number  of  church  denominations  have  lately  under- 
taken aggressive  programs  for  Americanization  and  good 
citizenship.  The  Inter-Church  World  Movement,  recently 
organized  in  behalf  of  the  Protestant  churches  generally,  has 
been  making  a  survey  preparatory  to  a  wide-spread  campaign 
along  these  lines.  The  New  World  Movement  of  the  Baptist 
Church  has  recently  announced  its  plan  to  expend  $200,000 
in  Chicago  for  evangelistic  and  educational  work  and  for  war 
type  huts  in  "radical  centers."  The  Catholic  Church  has  al- 
ready under  way  a  plan  for  a  very  broad  educational  cam- 
paign, making  use  especially  of  moving-pictures,  lectures  and 
distribution  of  literature. 


AMERICANIZATION  IN  CHICAGO  [  29  ] 

FOREIGN  LANGUAGE  ASSOCIATIONS 

All  the  important  immigrant  groups  in  Chicago  have 
one  or  more  ancestral  societies.  Most  of  these  are  of  the 
nature  of  fraternal  societies,  with  insurance  and  other  special 
benefit  features.  The  membership  includes  not  only  natural- 
ized American  citizens,  but  also  very  many  who  have  been 
born  in  this  country.  These  societies  render  great  service  to 
the  newly  arrived  immigrants  of  their  respective  nationalities, 
helping  them  to  find  homes,  to  find  work,  and  otherwise  to  get 
themselves  settled  in  the  new  world.  Some  of  the  societies 
extend  their  activities  very  definitely  into  Americanization 
work.  It  is  evident  that  such  societies  can  be  of  value  in  pro- 
moting speedy  adjustment  of  the  newcomers.  Among  the 
best  known  societies  in  Chicago  are  the  Polish  National 
Alliance,  the  Polish  Women's  Alliance,  the  Bohemian  Na- 
tional Alliance,  the  Lithuanian  Women's  Alliance,  and  the 
Italian  Benevolent  Society. 

The  Ail-American  League,  an  outgrowth  of  the  Foreign 
Language  Division  of  the  Chicago  Liberty  Loan  organiza- 
tion, is  a  federation  with  representatives  of  all  the  foreign 
language  groups,  definitely  organized  for  the  development  of 
good  American  citizenship.  This  organization  could  be  used 
very  effectively  in  city-wide  Americanization  efforts. 

SEMI-PUBLIC  AGENCIES — SOCIAL  SETTLEMENTS 

The  semi-public  agencies  include  a  large  number  of  wel- 
fare societies  more  or.less  definitely  organized  for  the  promo- 
tion of  community  understanding  and  good  citizenship.  The 
social  settlements  are  for  this  purpose  directly  perhaps  the 
most  valuable  of  all  of  these.  Normally  a  social  settlement 
is  a  neighborhood  house  in  which  people  live  who  know  about 
this  country,  are  familiar  with  its  customs,  and  represent  the 
best  standards  of  citizenship;  located  in  a  neighborhood  in 
which  the  people  need  to  learn  about  this  country  and  its  cus- 
toms and  to  have  their  standards  of  citizenship  established; 
among  whom  the  activities  of  the  residents  of  the  neighbor- 
hood house  are  devoted  to  that  end.  There  are  twenty  or 
more  such  social  settlements  in  Chicago,  not  including 
churches  and  church  missions  whose  object  is  religious  rather 
than  civic.  All  kinds  of  classes  are  conducted  in  the  neighbor- 


[  30  ] THE  CHICAGO  COMMUNITY  TRUST 

hood  houses.  Lectures  are  provided,  entertainments  are 
given.  The  people  of  the  neighborhood  participate  actively 
in  the  management  of  these.  Various  local  clubs  of  men, 
women,  boys  or  girls  are  organized  and  have  their  clubrooms 
in  the  house.  Many  of  these  institutions  have  their  greatest 
value  as  practical  instructors  in  home-making. 

DAY  NURSERIES 

Day  nurseries  are  valuable  not  only  for  the  care  they  pro- 
vide for  young  children  but  for  the  practical  lessons  they  give 
mothers  in  the  care  of  children  in  this  country.  There  are 
forty-five  or  more  of  these. 

Y.  M.  C.  A.  AND  KINDRED  ORGANIZATIONS 

The  Young  Men's  Christian  Association,  especially 
through  its  Americanization  Department  and  the  various 
special  shop  departments,  is  reaching  many  people.  It  stimu- 
lates enrollment  for  the  factory  classes  and  the  night  schools ; 
urges  immigrants  to  take  out  their  citizenship  papers,  both 
first,  and  second,  and  instructs  them  in  preparation  for  the 
examinations;  co-operates  with  public  and  private  agencies 
in  community  "clean-up"  campaigns,  and  in  the  development 
of  community  gardens ;  maintains  speakers'  bureaus  and  pro- 
vides speakers  for  shop  meetings;  conducts  series  of  public 
meetings,  in  the  small  parks  in  summer,  out-doors,  and  in  the 
park  houses  in  winter,  with  lectures  on  subjects  relating  to 
good  citizenship,  and  community  singing  and  moving  pic- 
tures. The  total  number  of  out-door  meetings  held  last  year 
was  one  hundred  (100)  and  the  average  estimated  attendance 
was  thirty-one  hundred  (3,100) ;  there  were  two  hundred  and 
thirty-two  (232)  indoor  meetings,  with  an  average  attendance 
of  two  hundred  and  eighty  (280). 

COMMUNITY  SERVICE 

Some  similar  work  has  been  done  by  the  Knights  of  Co- 
lumbus. The  Chicago  Community  Service,  recently  organ- 
ized as  the  successor  to  War  Camp  Community  Service,  has 
also  outlined  an  extensive  program  along  similar  lines,  but 
with  more  emphasis  on  recreational  features  and  with  hopes 
of  covering  the  entire  city  more  thoroughly. 


AMERICANIZATION  IN  CHICAGO [  31  ] 

Hospitals,  dispensaries,  visiting  nurses,  children's  insti- 
tutions, infant  welfare  work,  and  charitable  and  philan- 
thropic agencies  generally  contribute  largely  to  the  promotion 
of  good  citizenship.  There  are,  of  course,  a  multitude  of  such 
organizations  in  Chicago.  But  their  work  bears  only  indi- 
rectly on  Americanization. 

PATRIOTIC  SOCIETIES 

Among  the  constructive  agencies  for  Americanism  and 
good  citizenship  must  be  mentioned  finally  a  new  class  of 
organizations,  brought  together  specifically  for  the  promotion 
of  patriotism  and  good  citizenship,  especially  as  an  antidote 
for  the  activities  of  "radicals"  and  destructionists.  Many  of 
these  have  been  formed  all  over  the  country — some  only  local, 
some  with  national  programs.  In  Chicago,  a  number  of  these 
societies  have  agreed  to  merge  their  activities  in  a  national 
organization  known  as  the  United  Americans.  This  organi- 
zation has  its  national  headquarters  in  New  York  City,  and 
state  committees  have  been  organized  in  most  of  the  states.  It 
is  the  plan  of  this  and  similar  organizations  to  stimulate  all 
kinds  of  activities  for  the  promotion  of  good  citizenship,  espe- 
cially by  means  of  speaking  campaigns  and  distribution  of 
literature  to  overcome  the  malicious  influence  of  anti- 
Americans. 

LIST  OF  AMERICANIZATION  AGENCIES 

Following  is  a  list  of  organizations  in  Chicago  engaged 

in  Americanization  work.  It  cannot  be  presumed  that  the  list 

is  complete. 

Board  of  Education,  Department  of  School  Extension,  Trib- 
une Building.  There  are  Community  Councils  or  com- 
mittees in  connection  with  each  of  the  62  Community 
Centers  under  direction  of  this  department. 

Patriotic  Community  Councils — organized  chiefly  for  the 
promotion  of  additional  community  centers  and  commu- 
nity councils — 105  W.  Monroe  St. 

Illinois  Council  of  Parent  Teacher  Associations  (Mrs.  Harry 
L.  Fleming,  Bloomington,  President). 

Association  of  Commerce,  Americanization  Committee,  10  S. 
La  Salle  St. 

Chicago  Public  Library,  Randolph  St.  and  Michigan  Ave. 


[  32  ]  THE  CHICAGO  COMMUNITY  TRUST 

CHURCH  ORGANIZATIONS 

Social  Service  Departments 

Baptist  Church,  125  N.  Wabash  Ave. 

Disciple  Church,  19  S.  La  Salle  St. 

Congregational  Church,  Association  Bldg.,  19  S.  La  Salle  St. 

Episcopal  Church,  1500  Heyworth  Building. 

Lutheran  Church,  159  N.  State  St. 

Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  58  E.  Washington  St. 

Presbyterian  Church,  Stevens  Building,  17  N.  State  St. 

Chicago  Church  Federation,  19  S.  La  Salle  St. 


Inter-Church  World  Movement,  Association  Building,  19  S. 
La  Salle  St. 

New  World  Movement,  Baptist  Church,  417  S.  Dearborn  St. 
The  Night  Church,  22  Quincy  St. 


Illinois  Committee  on  Americanization  (Department  of  the 
Interior),  140  S.  Dearborn  St. 

Illinois    State    Committee    on    Immigration,    State    House, 
Springfield,  111. 

U.  S.  Immigration  Service  (Department  of  Labor),  542  S. 
Dearborn  St. 

U.  S.  Bureau  of  Naturalization  (Department  of  Labor),  Fed- 
eral Building. 

The  following  Governmental  Bureaus  have  been  partic- 
ularly active  in  investigations  of  conspiracies  against  the 
government : 

U.  S.  Department  of  Justice,  Bureau  of  Investigation,  Fed- 
eral Building. 

War  Department,  Central  Division,  Intelligence  Dept.,  240 
E.  Ohio  St. 


AMERICANIZATION  IN  CHICAGO [  33  ] 

FOREIGN  LANGUAGE  ASSOCIATIONS 

The  All-American  League,  38  S.  Dearborn  St.,  The  Execu- 
tive Committee  of  33  members  is  representative  of  all 
foreign  language  associations. 

Polish  National  Alliance,  1406  W.  Division  St. 

Polish  Women's  Alliance  of  America,  1309  N.  Ashland  Ave. 

Polish  Roman  Catholic  Union  of  America,  984  Milwaukee 
Ave. 

Bohemian  National  Alliance,  3734  W.  26th  St. 

Creation  League  of  Illinois,  2552  Wentworth  Ave. 

Chicago  Norske  Club,  2346  N.  Kedzie  Ave. 

Hungarian  University  Club,  305  S.  La  Salle  St. 

Swedish  Club,  1258  N.  La  Salle  St. 

Italian  Benevolent  Society,  cor.  Dearborn  &  Washington  Sts. 

Lithuanian  Women's  Alliance. 

Ukranian  Women's  Alliance. 

SEMI-PUBLIC  AGENCIES 

Social  Settlements 

Abraham  Lincoln  Center,  700  Oakwood  Blvd. 
Association  House  of  Chicago,  2150  W.  North  Ave. 
Bohemian  Settlement  House,  1831  S.  Racine  Ave. 
Catholic  Social  Center,  308  S.  Sangamon  St. 
Chicago  Commons,  955  W.  Grand  Ave. 
Chicago  Hebrew  Institute,  1258  W.  Taylor  St. 
Christopher  House  Association,  Altgeld  and  Greenview  Sts. 
Eli  Bates  House,  621  W.  Elm  St. 
Emerson  House  Association,  1901  W.  Ohio  St. 
Erie  Chapel  Institute,  1347  W.  Erie  St. 
Fellowship  House,  831  W.  33rd  St. 
Gads  Hill  Center,  1919  W.  20th  St. 
Guardian  Angels  Center,  927  Polk  St. 
Henry  Booth  House,  701  W.  14th  PI. 
Hull  House,  800  S.  Halsted  St. 
Northwestern  University  Settlement,  1400  Augusta  St. 


[  34  ] THE  CHICAGO  COMMUNITY  TRUST 

Olivet  Institute,  444  Blackhawk  St. 

Paulist   Settlement   and   Playground    of    Chicago,    1122    S. 

Wabash  Ave. 

St.  Mary's  Settlement  and  Day  Nursery,  656  W.  44th  St. 
University  of  Chicago  Settlement,  4630  Gross  Ave. 

Association  of  Practical  Housekeeping  Centers,  724  Gilpin 

PL,  4748  Bishop  St. 

Augustana  Central  Home,  1346  N.  La  Salle  St. 
Chicago  Urban  League,  3032  S.  Wabash  Ave. 
Chicago  Woman's  Aid,  41 1  48th  St. 
Chicago  Woman's  Club,  Americanization  Committee,  410 

S.  Michigan  Ave. 

Civic  Music  Association  of  Chicago,  410  S.  Michigan  Ave. 
Immigrants'  Protective  League,  824  S.  Halsted  St. 
Associated  Jewish  Charities  of  Chicago,  1800  Selden  St. 
Bohemian  Charitable  Association,  2603  S.  Kedzie  Ave. 
German  Aid  Society  of  Chicago,  160  N.  Wells  St. 
Community  Service  of  Chicago,  108  S.  La  Salle  St. 
Y.  M.  C.  A.  Americanization  Dept,  19  S.  La  Salle  St. 
Stock  Yards  Community  Clearing  House,  Stock  Yards. 
Chicago  Association  of  Day  Nurseries,  17  N.  State  St. 
Woman's  City  Club,  17  N.  State  St. 

INDUSTRIAL  AND  TRADE  AGENCIES 

Attempt  to  publish  a  complete  list  of  individual  firms 
engaged  in  definite  forms  of  Americanization  work  would  be 
impractical.  The  activities  of  the  International  Harvester 
Company,  the  Illinois  Steel  Company  and  the  Garment  Trades 
Association  are  typical  and  outstanding  examples.  The  Asso- 
ciation of  Commerce,  Americanization  Committee,  can  fur- 
nish further  information.  Among  national  associations  which 
might  be  mentioned  are : 

National  Metal  Trades  Association,  1021  People's  Gas  Build- 
ing, Chicago. 

Fire  Insurance  Americanization  Movement,  76  Williams  St., 
New  York  City. 


AMERICANIZATION  IN  CHICAGO [  35  ] 

PATRIOTIC  SOCIETIES 

American  Legion,  5  S.  Wabash  Ave. 

American  Law  and  Order  League  (Masons),  5410  S.  Park 
Ave. 

Patriotic  American  League,  38  S.  Dearborn  St. 
United  Americans,  38  S.  Dearborn  St. 
Inter-Racial  Council,  764  People's  Gas  Building. 
Colonial  Dames,  333  N.  Euclid  Ave.,  Oak  Park. 
American  Brotherhood,  Masonic  Temple  Building. 

Daughters  of  the  American  Revolution,  All  America  Shop, 
1 7  N.  State  St. 

National  Security  League,  19  W.  44th  St.,  New  York  City. 

White  Star  League,  Washington,  D.  C. 

National  Security  Council,  168  N.  Michigan  Ave. 

Art  Service  League,  Art  Institute. 

IV.    A  PROGRAM  OF  CO-ORDINATION. 

It  would  seem  from  this  brief  survey  of  Americanization 
agencies,  that  we  have  organizations  enough.  However,  when 
we  consider  the  work  to  be  done  and  how  far  we  are  from 
doing  it;  and  especially  when  we  consider  the  importance  of 
the  work,  in  view  not  merely  of  unusual  social  unrest  follow- 
ing the  war,  but  of  widespread  agitation  for  the  overthrow  of 
our  institutions,  which  agitation  finds  fruitful  soil  in  the  social 
unrest  of  the  times;  when  we  contemplate  the  character  of 
the  radical  changes  proposed,  involving  the  destruction  of 
representative  government  and  the  setting  up  instead  of  auto- 
cratic reigns  of  terror;  when  we  bring  to  mind  the  large  immi- 
gration which  is  almost  certain  to  come  to  this  country  in  the 
next  few  years,  an  immigration  of  peoples  unaccustomed  to 
the  privileges  of  free  citizenship — when  we  reflect  upon  these 
things  we  are  persuaded  ( 1 )  that  we  need  better  co-ordina- 
tion and  greatly  extended  activities  on  the  part  of  agencies 
already  existing;  or  (2)  that  we  need  more  agencies  (a  sug- 
gestion which  would  hardly  meet  with  general  approval) ;  or 


[  36  ] THE  CHICAGO  COMMUNITY  TRUST 

(3)  that  we  need  to  discover  and  apply  wholly  new  methods 
to  bring  about  among  ourselves  a  normal  and  healthy  state  of 
mind  and  a  broad  appreciation  of  the  splendid  character  of 
our  government  and  the  sure  benefits  to  be  derived  by  exer- 
cise of  the  established  rights  and  privileges  of  citizenship. 
The  best  results  will  be  obtained,  perhaps,  by  the  intelligent 
use  of  each  of  these  remedies.  But  we  need  to  avoid  bureau- 
cracy and  professionalism,  providing  opportunity  rather  for 
the  exercise  of  the  talents  and  the  patriotic  impulses  of  the 
average  citizen. 

Having  in  mind  these  considerations,  the  Community 
Trust  suggests  the  calling  of  a  conference  of  representatives 
of  Americanization  agencies  operating  in  Chicago  and  the 
selection  by  this  conference  of  a  Chicago  Americanization 
Commission  which  shall  serve  as  a  clearing  house  to  keep  the 
agencies  and  the  public  advised  of  the  work  being  done  and 
needing  to  be  done,  to  the  end  that  duplication  may  be  avoided 
and  efficiency  promoted. 


"An  American  is  one  who  reveres  our  flag,  loves  our  coun- 
try, and  cherishes  our  ideals  and  institutions." 


"Americanization  applies  equally  to  the  native  born  and 
foreign  born.  It  means  the  development  and  possession  by 
the  individual  of  intelligent  pride,  loyalty,  love  and  devotion 
to  the  government,  institutions  and  ideals  of  the  United  States, 
and  the  practical  identification  of  his  interests  with  those  of 
the  nation  and  its  people.  It  involves  the  practical  realiza- 
tion of  the  doctrine  of  the  brotherhood  of  man.  It  may  take 
place  in  the  native  born  by  the  regular  and  usual  influences 
of  home,  society  and  the  school.  In  the  case  of  the  foreign 
born,  Americanization  is  mainly  dependent,  on  the  one  hand, 
upon  the  expression  of  cordial  welcome  and  sincere  friend- 
liness toward  him,  and,  on  the  other  hand,  upon  his  own  initia- 
tive and  interest,  and  is  promoted  by  such  social,  linguistic 
and  civil  intercourse  and  education,  as  he  may  be  able  to  find, 
and  of  which  he  may  of  his  own  accord  avail  himself." 

Americanization  Committee, 
Chicago  Association  of  Commerce. 


AMERICANIZATION  IN  CHICAGO  [  37  ] 


CHICAGO  COMMUNITY  TRUST  encourages  bequests 
for  benevolent  purposes.  It  does  so  by  providing  a  means 
whereby  such  gifts  are  protected,  both  as  to  principal  and  in- 
come, and  the  revenue  distributed  in  accordance  with  the  wishes 
of  the  donors  and  the  conditions  and  needs  of  any  time.  Institutions  may 
come  and  go,  the  character  and  efficiency  of  management  may  be  greatly 
altered,  present  social  needs  may  cease  to  exist,  new  needs  not  now 
foreseen  may  develop — whatever  conditions  in  established  society  may 
arise,  the  Community  Trust,  as  a  perpetual  body  with  a  personnel  rep- 
resentative of  the  best  living  citizenship,  is  prepared  to  use  the  funds 
at  its  disposal  to  intelligently  meet  those  conditions. 

The  Community  Trust  was  organized  in  Chicago  in  1916,  to  meet 
the  situation  due  to  the  fact  that  conditions  do  change — have  changed  in 
the  United  States  in  the  last  hundred  years — that  institutions  once  pow- 
erful and  most  useful  have  gone  out  of  existence  altogether  or  have 
ceased  to  function  efficiently,  and  that  large  and  small  bequests  left  for 
the  benefit  of  mankind  by  men  and  women  of  good  intentions  have  been 
dissipated,  or  stand  now  inoperative,  contrary  to  the  wishes  of  the  donors 
and  the  needs  of  the  present. 

The  management  of  the  Chicago  Community  Trust  is  vested  in  an 
Executive  Committee  of  five  men,  appointed,  one  by  the  Judge  of  the 
Federal  Court  in  Chicago,  one  by  the  Judge  of  the  Probate  Court,  one 
by  the  chief  executive  of  (the  City  of  Chicago,  and  two  by  the  Harris 
Trust  and  Savings  Bank — the  trustee  of  the  only  funds  yet  available  to 
the  Community  Trust ;  and  an  Advisory  Council  of  not  to  exceed  fifteen 
men,  chosen  as  representative  of  the  financial  institutions  and  business 
interests  of  Chicago.  Any  reputable  bank  or  trust  company  in  the  City 
of  Chicago  may  be  made  the  trustee  or  the  depository  of  funds  for  the 
Community  Trust. 

Community  Trusts  have  been  organized  in  most  of  the  larger  cities 
of  the  United  States  and  are  rapidly  being  formed  elsewhere.  All  of 
these  are  organized  on  the  same  general  principal  and  for  the  same 
general  purposes.  These  purposes  are  so  broad  that  no  intelligent 
benevolent  purpose  is  excluded.  The  plan  has  so  strongly  appealed  to 
business  men,  philanthropists,  bankers,  trust  officers  and  social  workers 


[  38  ] 


THE  CHICAGO  COMMUNITY  TRUST 


everywhere  that  it  is  predicted  such  Community  Trusts  will  soon  be 
organized  in  every  important  city  of  this  country,  and  even  in  smaller 
cities  and  villages,  and  that  these  Community  Trusts  will  receive  and 
hold  a  very  large  part  of  the  bequests  of  individuals  for  local  benevolent 
purposes. 

The  funds  already  at  the  disposal  of  the  Chicago  Community  Trust — 
with  the  principal  amounting  to  upwards  of  three-quarters  of  a  million 
dollars — have  been  made  available  almost  entirely  through  the  generosity 
of  the  Harris  family,  the  largest  single  gift  being  from  the  Norman  Wait 
Harris  Memorial  Fund.  Other  gifts  are  desired.  A  prospective  donor 
need  not  wait  until  death  to  place  funds  in  the  hands  of  the  Community 
Trust,  but,  as  a  number  have  done,  may  give  funds  in  trust  now,  the 
income  or  part  of  the  principal  or  both  of  which  may  be  devoted  to  such 
causes  as  the  donor  selects.  The  Chicago  Community  Trust  is  prepared 
to  receive  special  donations  or  to  give  advice  to  contributors  on  practical 
uses  to  which  special  gifts  may  be  applied. 


For  further  information,  forms 
of  bequest,  etc.,  address  The  Chi- 
cago Community  Trust,  1340,  10 
So.  La  Salle  St.,  Chicago,  Illinois. 


AMERICANIZATION  IN  CHICAGO 


[  39  ] 


CHICAGO  COMMUNITY  TRUST 

Classification  of  Purposes  and  a  Summary  of  Charitable  Gifts 

From  Beginning  of  Organization,  January  1916,  to 

December  31,  1919. 


A. 


O. 


PURPOSES 


GIFTS 


For  assisting  charitable  Institutions  (In- 
cluding educational  institutions  not  oper- 
ated for  profit)  whether  supported  by 
private  donations  or  public  taxation,  1.  e.: 

A.  Charitable  Institutions — Relief,  Per- 
sonal Assistance 

A*.  Educational  Institutions  —  General 
Education;  Cultural  and  Religious 
Activities 

For  promoting  scientific  research  along 
lines  for  the  alleviation  of  human  suffering, 
1.  e.  Social  Study,  Discovery,  Analysis, 
Surveys 


Committee 


17,000.00 


2,350.00 


1,500.00 


In  accordance 
with  stipula- 
tion of  Donor 


5.000.00 
9,320.31 


Total 


Care  of  Sick,  Aged  and  Helpless,  i.  e.  Phys- 
ical Care,  as  in  Hospitals,  Old  People's 
Homes,  Institutions  for  Defectives,  Home 
Nursing 6,400.00 

D.  Care  of  Children,  1.  e.  Physical  Care  of 
Dependent  Children,  as  in  Orphan  Asy- 
lums, Foster  Homes,  and  Special  Schools..  3,250.00 

E.  For  aiding  in  reformation  of  (1)  victims  of 
narcotics,  drugs,  and  liquors,  (2)  released 
inmates  of  penal  and  reformatory  institu- 
tions,   and    (3)    wayward    or    delinquent 

persons,  i.  e.  Individual  Reformation 2,000.00 

F.  For  improvement  of  living  and  working 
conditions,   1.   e.    "Housing,"   "Industrial 
Relations,"  Community  Betterment,  Social 

Uplift,  Economics. 1,850.00 

Q.  For  providing  facilities  for  recreation,  i.e., 
Leisure  time  activities,  Playgrounds,  En- 
tertainments, Dramatics,  Popular  Lectures.  500 . 00 

H.    For  encouragement  of  social  and  domestic 
hygiene,  i.e.,  Individual  and  Social  Moral- 
ity, Law  Enforcement,  Social  Reform,  700  00 
Health  Education 

I.  For  the  encouragement  of  sanitation  and 
measures  for  the  prevention  or  suppression 
of  disease,  i.e.,  General  Health  Activities, 
such  as  Clean  Streets,  Pure  Water,  Pure 
Milk  Campaigns 

TOTAL $35,65000 


Dec.  31,  1919. 


13,635.93 
3,514.06 


500.00 


$31,870.30 


33,670.31 
1,600.00 

20,035.93 
6,764.06 

2.000.00 

2,350.00 
600  00 
700  00 

$67.520  SO 


Total  Receipts  $102.053  05.     Total  Disbursements  $79.003  25.     Balance  $23.049  80. 


[  40  ] THE  CHICAGO  COMMUNITY  TRUST 

THE  CHICAGO  COMMUNITY  TRUST 

EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE 

Clifford  W.  Barnes,  Chairman,  1340  Otis  Building 
E.  J.  Buffington,  208  South  La  Salle  Street 
Charles  S.  Cutting,  5  North  La  Salle  Street 
Abel  Davis,  69  West  Washington  Street 
B.  A.  Eckhart,  1300  Carroll  Avenue 

ADVISORY  COUNCIL 

J.  Ogden  Armour,  President  Armour  and  Company. 
Frank  H.  Armstrong,  President  Reid,  Murdoch  and  Co. 
Judge  Orrin  N.  Carter,  Supreme  Court  of  Illinois. 

James    B.    Forgan,    Chairman    Board    of    Directors,    First 
National  Bank. 

Albert  W.  Harris,  President  Harris  Trust  and  Savings  Bank. 
Morton  D.  Hull,  Attorney,  State  Senator. 

Edmund  D.  Hulbert,  President  Merchants  Loan  and  Trust 
Company. 

Charles  H.  Markham,  President  Illinois  Central  Railroad 
Company. 

John  J.   Mitchell,   Chairman   Board  of  Directors,   Illinois 
Trust  and  Savings  Bank. 

James  A.  Patten,  Capitalist. 

Frederick  H.  Rawson,  President  Union  Trust  Company. 

George  M.  Reynolds,  President  Continental  and  Commercial 
National  Bank. 

John  G.  Shedd,  President  Marshall  Field  and  Company. 


FRANK  D.  LOOMIS,  Acting  Secretary. 

Office  Address,  10  S.  La  Salle  St. 
Room  134Q— Phone  Franklin  3356 
Chicago,  -  Illinois. 


30112064782649 


